Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on Thursday announced he had dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament and set new legislative elections for November 17.

“I have dissolved the National Assembly to ask the sovereign people for the institutional means that would allow me to give substance to the systemic transformation that I promised them,” Faye said on national television.

“Today, more than ever, the time has come to open a new phase in our term,” the 44-year-old head of state said.

Faye swept to a presidential victory in March 2024 on a promise of radical change for the West African nation.

Along with his Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Faye ran on a ticket of sovereignty and leftist pan-Africanism, raising the hopes of young people in a country where three-quarters of the population is under 35.

But government action has so far been hampered by the lack of a majority in parliament.

According to Senegal’s constitution, Faye could dissolve the opposition-dominated parliament from September 12 and call early legislative elections, which could give him the majority needed to implement his policy agenda.

In his address, Faye said “the pledge of a frank collaboration with the parliamentary majority.. was an illusion”.

“It has decided to turn its back on the people to pursue its cult of obstruction, thereby blocking the project for which I was elected,” he said.

He cited, in particular, the management of public finances under his predecessor Macky Sall, alleging “wilfully hidden excesses” of spending.

He added that a report approved by Senegal’s court of auditors would soon be published.